Research on Long-Term Exercise Habits in Teens and Young Adults

A study published in PLOS ONE looked at how exercise habits develop from adolescence to young adulthood, using data from the Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth (LSAY).

The goal was to track exercise patterns from ages 16 to 24, find out what factors at age 15 predict these patterns, and see how exercise affects health, mental health, and education by age 25.

Results showed that at age 25, those who exercised regularly reported better health, less stress, and higher life satisfaction. Factors like being male, having high self-confidence, participating in sports, and watching less TV at age 15 were linked to better exercise habits over time.

Interestingly, students who had higher academic skills were less likely to stick to daily exercise habits and were more likely to reduce their exercise as they got older. This may be because academic pressures might take time away from exercise, especially for those with high academic achievement.

The study also found that girls exercised less and had more inconsistent habits than boys, likely due to fewer opportunities, cultural expectations, and lower confidence in sports. Therefore, encouraging girls to stay active is important.

Understanding the Research

The study used data from the Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth (LSAY), which followed young Australians from age 15 to 25 between 2006 and 2016.

Participants reported their exercise habits at five points between ages 16 and 24, and their health, mental health, and education outcomes were assessed at 25.

Over time, the researchers shifted from phone interviews to online surveys to keep the participants engaged. This allowed them to study how teen exercise habits influence long-term outcomes.

These were the findings:

Several factors affected whether people stuck to daily exercise:

• More time spent on sports each week made it more likely to follow exercise guidelines.
• For each extra hour of sports, the risk of never meeting guidelines dropped.
• The risk of quitting exercise guidelines also dropped.
• Girls were more likely to never meet exercise guidelines.
• Other risks for dropping exercise included low confidence in academics, strong academic skills, and more weekly TV time.

The study also looked at how exercise habits relate to health, mental health, and education. The results showed:

• Daily exercise adherence was linked to better self-reported general health at age 25.
• People who never met exercise guidelines or dropped out had a higher risk of poorer health.
• No significant benefits were observed for mental health, life satisfaction, or vocational outcomes.
• Consistent weekly exercisers had lower odds of mental illness and higher life satisfaction compared to those who exercised infrequently or reduced their activity.

The study also identified risk factors for insufficient exercise participation and how they affect health. Key findings include:

• Female gender, increased television time, and average self-efficacy levels were linked to insufficient exercise.
• Infrequent exercisers were more likely to report poor health outcomes, including a higher likelihood of mental illness and lower life satisfaction.
• These results stress the negative effects of inconsistent exercise compared to regular exercise habits.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

The teenage years are an important time for building habits that affect our health later on. Problems like depression, diabetes, and heart disease can start during this time, but getting your kids into good habits now can help prevent them.

Here are some easy ways you can support them:

Replace screen time with physical activities

This is a great tip for parents! Encouraging kids and teens to spend less time in front of screens and more time being active can improve their mental and physical health. It can also help reduce stress from school.

Suggest fun and engaging physical activities that they can enjoy, like dancing or even just walking together around the neighborhood. Learn more benefits of physical activity.

Support their participation in sports

Let kids try different sports or activities to find what they love. Some options they might explore include:

• Soccer
• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Martial arts
• Track and field
• Rock climbing
• Cross country
• Baseball
• Lacrosse
• Swimming
• Surfing

Remember to praise their effort and improvement in sports rather than just winning or being the best to keep them motivated.

Help them set realistic fitness goals and cheer them on

Begin with goals that are easy to accomplish and build from there. Make it specific! For example, “Walk 10 minutes every day this week” or “Dance to your favorite song for 10 minutes every day this week.”

Once they get comfortable, you could increase the time to 15 minutes or introduce new routines or challenges. It is also recommended to use a fitness journal, sticker chart, or an app to keep track of their goals and achievements. Visual reminders of progress can be very motivating.

The authors of the study also suggest that helping adolescents improve their self-confidence, especially at age 15, could help them develop long-term exercise habits. Believing in oneself is linked to more physical activity, so focusing on self-confidence and self-esteem could encourage both short-term and long-term exercise.

Discover additional resources for kids and teens with our Healthy Habits Posters and Self-Care Worksheets.